Salem bridge repair bid comes in under budget

By ADAM SWIFTUnion Leader correspondent

SALEM — There’s good news for residents looking to cross the Teague Drive Bridge in the near future.

Bids for work on the closed bridge were finalized this week, with a low bid of $403,000 submitted by J. Parker and Daughters of Pittsfield. The bid is $90,000 under the amount voters authorized the town in March to bond for the bridge repair.

The Department of Public Works closed the bridge and culvert on Teague Drive between the intersection of Pawtucket Lane and Parker Circle last June. Prior to the complete closing, the bridge had been reduced to one lane.

The bridge had deteriorated to the point where a permanent closure was called for by the state’s department of transportation.

“We hope to start the work in June and have that bridge done, hopefully, before school starts,” said Town Manager Keith Hickey. “If it’s not done by then, it should be a week or two after school starts in September.”

Because the bid came in considerably lower than the amount that was approved by the town, Hickey said that at some point, voters will be asked to rescind the unused amount of the $493,000 bond.